Report: Solar power installations doubled in Great Lakes Bay Region in 2016

Chris Aldridge, caldridge@mdn.net

Published 10:00 am, Saturday, January 14, 2017

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A installation technician with The Green Panel adjusts his hard hat while working to line the recently installed solar panels while Scot Griese of Blasy Electric surveys the progress from the ground in this 2009 file photo taken at Chippewa Nature Center preschool. less

A installation technician with The Green Panel adjusts his hard hat while working to line the recently installed solar panels while Scot Griese of Blasy Electric surveys the progress from the ground in this ... more

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BRITTNEY LOHMILLER | blohmiller@mdn.net
The Green Panels workers Bryan McNulty, left, and Aaron Calderon install rails to support 30 solar panels on the roof of Chris and Sue Streeter's home in Sanford in this May 2016 file photo. The 30 solar panels were installed on the south side of the home with the Streeters becoming the first installation for Solarize Michigan. less

BRITTNEY LOHMILLER | blohmiller@mdn.net
The Green Panels workers Bryan McNulty, left, and Aaron Calderon install rails to support 30 solar panels on the roof of Chris and Sue Streeter's home in Sanford in this ... more

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A project manager and installation technician with The Green Panel organize supplies on the roof of the Chippewa Nature Center preschool in this 2009 file photo.

A project manager and installation technician with The Green Panel organize supplies on the roof of the Chippewa Nature Center preschool in this 2009 file photo.

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BRITTNEY LOHMILLER | blohmiller@mdn.net
Eric Roberts with the Green Panel, center, measures a solar panel that was installed on the roof of Chris and Sue Streeter's home in Sanford in this May 2016 file photo. The 30 solar panels were installed on the south side of the home with the Streeters becoming the first installation for Solarize Michigan. less

BRITTNEY LOHMILLER | blohmiller@mdn.net
Eric Roberts with the Green Panel, center, measures a solar panel that was installed on the roof of Chris and Sue Streeter's home in Sanford in this May 2016 file photo. ... more

Report: Solar power installations doubled in Great Lakes Bay Region in 2016

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A new report from Solarize Michigan says its 15-month campaign to fit homes and small businesses in the Great Lakes Bay Region with rooftop solar power helped double total installed capacity, spurring a 256 percent increase over 2015 numbers.

Solarize Michigan is a nonprofit run by the Institute for Energy Innovation, and is Michigan’s “first comprehensive effort to accelerate regional deployment of rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.” The nonprofit targeted the Great Lakes Bay Region, home to a number of leading solar firms. Funding comes from the C.S. Mott Foundation. Community partners include 5 Lakes Energy, Bay Future, Midland Tomorrow and Saginaw Future.

In Midland, Bay and Saginaw counties, 169 customers enrolled to learn more and determine whether their home or business was suitable for solar. The Solarize Michigan campaign resulted in 16 new solar systems: 15 residential installations and one at the Wirt Public Library in Bay City. It contributed to the addition of 132.4 kW of new solar capacity in the region, nearly doubling the previous total installed capacity — representing a 256 percent increase over 2015 installations. Solarize customers invested about $397,500, according to Solarize Michigan’s January 2017 report.

“Indeed, more than 40 percent of the total solar capacity in the Great lakes Bay region to date was installed during 2016 through the Solarize Michigan campaign,” the report states.

Seven solar panel installations are in Sanford.

“At seven installations within the same zip code, we are approaching a ‘tipping point’ at which solar will continue to grow organically,” the report states.

That effect has been documented in other states,“ where the initial intense campaign period raised community awareness and helped spur additional solar deployment the years following the campaign by catalyzing long-term market transformation,” according to the report.

The nonprofit says there are a number of scheduled installations for 2017. Read Solarize Michigan’s full report at http://bit.ly/2iouqwu

At Solarize’s first community workshop in Michigan at the Midland Center for the Arts in March 2016, Dan Scripps, senior adviser with the Institute for Energy Innovation, said prices for solar panels vary based on the size of the building, energy usage and whether it is a residence or a business. The payback period for solar panels could be complete within 10 to 12 years of installation, Scripps said.

“If you have a roof with a lot of sunshine, this would be a really good program for you,” Scripps said.

Solarize Michigan offers a free solar power assessment for those curious as to whether a home or business is a good fit for solar. Aurora software is used to see how much sunlight you get in a year. The assessment includes proposals from three pre-selected installers. See more info at www.solarizemichigan.com/sign-up, call (989) 272-2636 or check facebook.com/solarizemichigan